Page 36 of Beyond Your Darkness, I'm Your Light

“One hundred dollars.” She squeaks.

“I’ll give you more than that, but you have to do something else for me.”

“Anything, suga, just don’t kill me.” She begs.

“I’d never kill someone that doesn’t deserve it.” As the words leave my mouth, I feel they are a lie because how many people have I killed that could have very well been innocent? How many lives have I destroyed because The Messengers told me to?

“Whatever you say. What do you want to know, and what will you have me do?” She whispers, shaking within my grasp.

“Once you tell me what I want to know and I give you the money, you have to leave here and never come back. This is your second chance.” I let go of her, grab her face, and pull it in my direction. “Can you do that for me?”

“This is all I know, how will I survive with just the little bit you spare me?” She cries, and I reach out and wipe away those tears.

“Because, you look stronger than you think. Don’t let these men take advantage of you until you beg for death. I will give you enough to get you out of here and find something on your own.” I promise.

“Okay, what do you want to know?” She asks, and I release her.

“Have you noticed anything out of the ordinary here lately? Murders, or unusual people?” She looks around, nervous that someone will hear her spilling what secrets this place holds.

“Yes, to all three. There have been several girls gone missing but never any pimps. It’s like the girls disappear and are never seen again, but the following day, there is always someone new to take their place.” She huffs. “Plus, I’ve seen some… Non-Human things walking around.”

“Non-Human? What do you mean by that?”

“People like you.”

“What do you mean, people like me?”

“Mister, I may be a whore, but I’m not dumb. I saw the way those shadows brought you here.” She says, wagging her finger at me. “Plus, we get paid extra to service Paranormal folks.” She confesses.

“Interesting. I will need to know everything.” I tell her, and she grabs my hand, leading me over to the place I’m assuming she stays.

For the next several hours, she tells me things I didn’t know and things I should have known sooner.

* * *

Once she’s done, I’m ready to kill someone, anyone, hell all of the fucking lowlife men here. Starting with every last pimp in this city and moving on to the next. The things she told me extended further than I thought it could. These women are Human and Paranormal, they have to endure being beaten, raped, and murdered by creatures ten times stronger than they are. This is no ordinary whore house… It’s a whore house for Paranormal men with certain fetishes.

She dropped a name I didn’t expect to hear, but I wouldn’t put it above them to have a hand in something like this. Galileo. I’m beginning to wonder if these names they provide me are legit or if they are given to me to throw me off the real course of their work. What could they possibly gain from killing prostitutes? Paranormal prostitutes at that. There is definitely something I’m missing here.

I’ve been blindsided since my Luna Nera was thrust into my life. Maybe she is a part of this, too and was a distraction they knew I couldn’t ignore. Why?

It seems like the darkness and I need to have a little chat. Reaching inside my coat, I pull out a wad of money. I’m sure it’s about ten grand and know that will be more than enough to get her started with her new life. I shove the money in her hands and watch as her eyes light up.

“Mister, are you sure you can afford to give this to me? It looks like more than I’ve ever had in my life.” She whispers, trying to hide the tears that are gathering within her eyes. It’s both sad and heartbreaking what these women go through, and it’s also a shame they don’t have someone to speak up for them when they need it. “Why do you walk around with this much money on you? You know it’s not safe.” Awww, she’s worried about me. How cute, I think, suppressing the urge to roll my eyes.

“Sweetheart, I can take care of myself. No one is crazy enough to try me.” I boast. “I’m more than sure I can afford to give you this. I would never have offered it to you otherwise.”

She looks up at me as the tears begin to leak from her eyes, and says, “Why me?” She sniffs. “Why are you helpingme? Don’t answer that, because I don’t deserve this.” She says, hopping out of bed. She begins to pace the floor.

“Who told you you don’t deserve to get out of this shitty life? Who told you that you would be stuck, and that this is all that you would ever amount to be?” I ask her, grabbing her shoulders to make her stop that pacing before she wears a hole in the floor.

“Hedid, the day he kidnapped me and brought me here.” She mumbles.

“Who?”

“Galileo.” She laughs. “Why do you think I’m still around? It’s not because I have some good pussy, either. No, he makes me dootherthings. Forthem.” She whispers, followed by a harsh laugh.

“What things? I thought you told me everything.”

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